The Roots of Addiction in Free Market Society

This paper is a thoughtful examination of the origins of addiction in modern free market society. It breaks from the narrow way in which we usually think about addiction -- as excessive drug use -- to encompass any lifestyle with compulsive and destructive habits, including the compulsion for money, power, work, food, or material goods. Author Bruce Alexander, a Professor of Psychology at Simon Fraser University, discusses why addiction is a serious and growing problem today, and looks at the links between the growth of "free markets" and the spread of addiction.

(Vancouver) A new study released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says that the current debate about addiction is incomplete. Public debate about addiction prevention, treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement focuses only on drug addiction, without addressing the root causes of addiction.

Bruce Alexander, author of the study and a professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University, says that all forms of addiction are on the rise in Canada, not just drug addiction.